Electrical friction-clutch.



PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

H. A. WILLIAMS. ELECTRICAL FRICTION CLUTCH APPLICATION FILED 0GT.22.1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

F] 2 Q I -1 WITNESSES- No. 817,730. 'PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

H. A. WILLIAMS. ELECTRICAL FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLIOATIPN FILED OOT.22. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

PATENT orrrcn.

HARRY WILLIAMS, OF AKRON. oHIo.

ELECTRBCAL FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed October 22, 1904. Serial No. 229,522.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY A. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Electrical FrictionClutches, of which-the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical friction-clutches,and has for its object the provision of an electrical frictionclutchmechanism operated electrically by which a driving-pulley located on ashaft and moving therewith may be brought into operative connection withand drive a second or driven pulley located loosely on said shaft fordriving from a shaft to a machine or to revolve another shaft.

Another object is to provide a clutch-brake to be used in connectionwith said clutch mechanism, which brake in case of accident Willimmediately and effectively, but without shock or jar, stop the rotationof the driven pulley by closing an electric circuit.

The invention consists, essentially, of a driving and a driven pulley,each having a series of metallic plates connected thereto, said platesbeing arranged in position so that they may be brought into frictionalcontact by magnetism induced by a current of electricity passing throughthem, thus frictionally connecting the two members of the clutchmechanism so they will rotate toether on a single shaft and theinvention further consists, in the combination, with such clutchmechanism, of abrake echanism connected in a similar manner to thedriven pulley and operated electrically stop the rotation of saidpulley.

The invention also consists in certain other novel features ofconstruction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will behereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Fi ure l is a vertical sec tional view of a clutchmechanism embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view takenon line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3,Fig. 1. Fig. 4

is a plan view of one of a series of frictional contact rings or platesused-to carry out the invention. Fi 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4,

showing manner offastening the retainingblocks of another series ofrings to the driving member of the clutch mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral'l indicates a shaft journaledinsuitable bearings 2 2, located on the bed-plate 3. Shaft 1 carries thedriving-pulley 4 and driven pulley 5. A driving-disk 6, having anelongated. hub 6, is keyed to shaft 1, and the hub of pulley 4 iskeyedto hub 6, the pulley 4, disk 6, and shaft 1 being thus connected torotate together. A member, which I term a presi sure-disk, as 7, has itshub surrounding the hub 6, and said disk .7 is capable of lateral motionon hub 6 between the hub of the pulley 4 and driving-disk 6. l

Located between the pressure-disk 7 and the central plate 8 of the wheel5 are two series of disk rings or friction-plates 9 and 10.

' magnetism, having a different metallic structure, which reduces thewear of the parts, the

series 9 being made of charcoal-iron and the series 10 composed of ringsof mild steel. By

'test I have found that these two metals give the best results, andbeing durable and ef- I fective in frictional contact I prefer their useain the clutch.

The rings 9 are connected to and rotate with disk 6. Said disk has asuitable number of'recesses 11 cut' therein to receive the disk plate orring-retaining blocks 12,'and said blocks are non-conductors ofmagnetism (hard bronze is preferred) andare securely fastened to thedriving-disk by screws 13. The rings 9 have a corresponding number of.re-

, cesses 14 in the interior periphery of the rings, 1 by means of whichsaid rings may be pushed into positionon the ring or disk 6, the ring-vrecesses 14 fitting over the retaining blocks 12 with aneat but slidingfit in order that the rings may have a lateral movement on thedriving-disk 6.

The disk rings 10 are connected to the driven pulley 5 by means ofretaining -blocks 15 and recesses 16, located on the outer periphery ofthe rings. The blocks 15 are secured in the recesses 17 of the pulley 5by IIO screws 18. These blocks 15 and recesses 16 are also three innumber, and the recesses lit over the blocks with a sliding lit.

In assembling the series of rings a ring 10 is first slipped over itsretaining-blocks 15. Then a ring 9 is slipped over blocks 12, andanother ring 10 is placed in position, followed by a second ring 9, thusalternating a small and a larger ring tothc desired number, the ringsbeing in position adjacent one another, but out of contact, when theclutch is out of engagement. it will be noticed that the pressure-disk 7is capable of a lateral-sliding motion on thehub 6 of the driving-disk6.

in connection with the driven pulley 5 l. employ anelectrically-opcrated brake mechanism similar in operation to theelectric pulley-driving mechanism, except that the pressure-disk 19 ofthe braking mechanism is non-rotatable, being anchored to the hedplate 2by pin 20, passed through the arm 21 of the disk, and lugs on thebed-plate. The series of rings 2'2 23 are held to the pulley 5 andpressure-dish 19 by retaining-blocks 2 tand respectively, the series 22rotating with pulley and the series 23 remaining stationary withpressure-disk 19. The pres surealisl; 19 is permitted to move laterallyon the hub 5 of the pulley said movement being limited by the ring orcollar 26..

Two magnets 2"! and Band the commutator-ring 29 are employed, connectionbeing made by the brush 30 and poles 31 and 32 to complete the circuits.one for energizing the clutch mechanism and the other circuit forenergizing the brake mechanism.

The clutch is energized by a magnetic circuit, (indicated by the arrowson disk 6 and pulley 5,) and the brake mechanism is operated by a switchto change the current from the clutch-circuit to the brake-circuit, asindicated by arrows in pulley 5 and disk 19, both circuits beingcompleted from the same poles 31 and 32. it will be understood, ofcourse, that while one mechanism is ener gized by being in circuit theother mechanism is not all'ectcd and is out of circuit.

In operation, assuming the shaft 1 to be rotating, and with it drivinpulley l, drivingd sk 6, pressure-disk 7, and rings 10, and the pulley5, idle, in order to engage the clutch and drive pulley 5 theclutchcircuit is closed The magnet .27 attracts disk 7, which slides onthe hub 6 toward pulley 5. Disk 7 slides the rings 10 and 5) againsteach other-that is, the recesses 16 and 14 glide over theretainingblocks 15 and 12, respectively, until all the rings are infrictional contact in a row between disk 7 and plate 8 of the pulley 5.As the rings gradually come into closer contact the friction increases,the idle rings 9 are started rotating and gradually attain speed,carrying with them the pulley 5. To disengage the clutch mechanism andstop the rotation ol pulley 5 instantaneously, the clutchcircuit isbroken and the brake-circuit is closed. This demagnctizes theclutch-cucuit and magnetizes the ln'akc-cu'cuit, thus throwing theclutch-rings out and throwing in the l i'akci'ings. "lhe pressure-disk19 having the stationary rings 23, the friction between said rings androtatable rings 32 causes rings 22 and pulley 5, to which they areattachcd,tocome to rcst,thus stopping the pullcy 5, but permitting thedrivingpulley 4 to to run freely. By the gradual frictional con-- tactobtained in the clulch-rings and brakerings the driven wheel may hestarted rapidly without shock or jar, and the same wheel may be stoppedquickly without shock, thus providing a very ellicient and desirablestarting and stopping mechanism. it will be observed that in thisconstruction no adjustment mechanism is necessary for the parts, as thewear on the rings will adapt the rings to continuous use withoutadjustment, and the electrical frictional contact between the rings willhold said rings rigid and drive the driven pulley as long as the currentcontinues.

i hile l have shown only one physical cmbodimcnt ol the features of myinvention, l. do not limit myself to this spccilic structure, aschanges, alterations, and substitutions may be made without departingfrom the scope of my claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what T claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a shalt, a drivingpulley, a driving-dish having anelongated hub and carrying non-magnetic retainingbloclrs, a series oireccsscd contact-rings engaging said bloclrs, and a pressure-disk movable on said elongated hub adapted to bear against said rings; with adriven pulley carrying non-magnetic retaining-l locl-:s, a series ofrecessed contact-rings engaging said blocks, said series of ringsforming part of a magnetic circuit, and electrical connections wherebysaid pressure-disk is moved to press the contact-rings into frictionalcontact to drive the driven pulley.

The combination of a shaft carrying a drivingpulley and driving disk,contactrings carried. by said dish, a driven pulley carryingretaining-blocks of non-magnetic material, a'prcssure-disk, a series ofrecessed rings to engage said blocks and arranged alternately betweensaid driving-rings, said sc ries of rings forming part of a magneticflux, and'electrical connections whereby said pressure-disk is moved topress said rings into frictional contact.

3. The combination of a shaft carrying a driving-disk provided withretaining-blocks.

of non-magnetic material, a series of recessed rings to engage saidblocks, a pressure-disk, a driven pulley carrying retaining-blocks, aseries of recessed rings engaging said blocks, said series of ringsforming part of a mag- IIO netic flux, and electrical connectionswhereby the pressure-disk brings the rings into frictional contact.

4. A shaft and driving-disk, retainingblocks of non-magnetic material onthe disk and a series of recessed rings engaged by said blocks, saidrings forming part of a magnetic flux, a pressure-disk, and a magnetcarried by the driving-disk, combined with a driven pulley carrying nonmagnetic I retainingblocks, a series of recessed rings engaging saidblocks, a commutator on the driven pulley, and electrical connections tobring the rings into frictional contact. a

5. In a clutch, a shaft, a driving-pulley carrying contact-plates, adriven pulley carrying contact-plates, combined with brake mechanismhaving contaet-plates, contactplates on the driven pulley adapted tofrictionally engage with said brake contactplates, and an electricalcircuit with a switch therein to change the magnetic flux from theclutch-circuit to the brake-circuit. w

6. In a clutch, a shaft, a driving-pulley rotatable thereon carryingcontact-plates, a driven pulley carrying contact-plates adapted tofrictionally engage said driving-plates, combined with a movablenon-rotatable pressure member carrying contact-plates, contactplatescarried by the driven pulley adapted to contact with the last-mentionedor brake plates, and an electrical circuit with a switch therein tochange the current from the clutchcircuit to the brake-circuit.

7. In a clutch, a shaft, a driving-pulley carrying contact-plates, adriven pulley carrying contact-plates adjacent said drivingplatescombined with a movable non-rotatable pressure-disk havingretaining-blocks and 1 contact recessed rings to engage said blocks,contact-plates carried by the driven pulley adapted to engage with saidlast-mentioned plates, and an electrical circuit witha switch therein tochange the current from the clutch- .circuit to the last-mentionedseries of rings. 8. In a clutch, the combination with a lrivc.n pulleycarrying two series of contactrings, a driving-pulley carrying a seriesof rings adapted to frictionally. engage one of said series, anon-rotatable brake member having contact-rings to engage the rings ofthe other series and electric connections with a switch therein tochange the current from the clutch-circuit to the brake-circuit.

9. In a clutch, the combination with a driven pulley carrying two seriesof contactrings and a ccmunutator, a driving pulley carrying a magnetand a-series of rings ad apted to frictionally contact with one of saidseries, a non-rotatable brake member having a magnet and contact-ringsadapted to engage the other series of rings on the driven pulley, andelectrical connections with a switch therein to change the current fromthe clutch-circuit to the brake-circuit, whereby the clutch 'may bedriven or the said clutch disengaged and the brake engaged.

In testimony whereof I 'aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY A. WILLIAMS.

Witnesees:

JoHN R. VAUGHAN, RAYMOND E. LEWIS.

